Henrik Stenson set to make a fight for title

Henrik Stenson lines up the ball for one of his five third round birdies to lead by one shot in Dubai. Picture: Reuters

MATT SMITH

Henrik Stenson fired a five-under 67 in the third round of Dubai’s $8 million DP World Tour Championship yesterday to retain a one-shot lead, although Ian Poulter – who can pip the Swede to Europe’s money-list title – closed to within four shots.

Stenson can win the Race to Dubai, formerly the European Order of Merit, and a $1m bonus with victory at the tour’s season finale, as can Poulter if he prevails over 72 holes at the Earth course and Stenson fails to finish in the top two.

“I know the guys are going to try their hardest to attack again tomorrow,” said Stenson. “It’s all about being in position on Sunday afternoon. We’ll have to see coming into the back nine, the last three or four, if I need to make any adjustments.”

The 37-year-old sank four birdies on the final five holes to move to an aggregate 17-under 199, while Briton Poulter (66) is on 203.

“I’m right there. I’m hunting,” said Poulter. “If I can get off to a decent start tomorrow, it’s going to be a fun back nine. If I play like I did today, 62 is realistic.”

Sandwiched between them is world No.39 Victor Dubuisson, who rattled in 11 birdies as he equalled this year’s best round of 64. The in-form Frenchman, winner of last week’s $7m Turkish Airlines Open, is on 200, or 16 under, despite making a double-bogey at the par-four tenth.

“I didn’t hole very long putts but I played good between four and ten feet,” said the 23-year-old. “The last three months I’ve been working very hard on my putting, my short game, the stroke, the way to read the line.”

England’s Justin Rose (68) and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell (68), who could also win the money list with victory in Dubai, are off the pace at 11 and 8 under respectively.

Going into the tournament, Stenson said he was happy to lead from the front and his confidence was apparent as he surged to 12 under after two rounds, five shots clear of his closest rivals for the money list crown.

The Swede was less assured as he began his third round under stifling desert skies, missing birdie chances on the par-four first hole and par-five second, lipping the first – a ten-foot downhill putt – and coming up awry on the other from a similar distance.

The crowd was dotted with Sweden flags and Stenson’s home support hoped for something to cheer after the country’s football team lost 1-0 to Portugal in the first leg of their World Cup play-off on Friday.

He obliged on the fifth, landing his second shot within three feet of the pin and he made no mistake from there to pick up his first shot of the day and move to 13 under.

Playing partner Alejandro Canizares started one stroke behind Stenson and drew level with a four-foot birdie on the second but on the fifth the Spaniard sank a three-putt bogey – his first dropped shot since the same hole of the first round – to leave Stenson two shots clear.

Canizares (70) ended on 203, while Stenson birdied the seventh, bogeyed the tenth and picked up shots on holes 14, 15, 16 and 18 as an afternoon breeze swept the course.

“It was a bit of a tough day,” said the world No.3. “I was probably in-between clubs a few more times and I just didn’t strike it quite as good.”

Poulter sank birdies on the opening two holes and bogeyed the par-three fourth before picking up further shots at holes five and seven.

He made four more birdies on the back nine, although another bogey on the 17th blotted his scorecard.

“I need to make up ground. I’m being overly aggressive and it’s going to catch you a couple of times but hopefully being aggressive I can take my fair share of birdie putts,” he added.